KAYSVILLE — Young plants enjoy cold spring weather even less than people do.

Thankfully, there are tricks gardeners can use to help plants thrive through the worst of spring chills. Weber Basin is offering a free class on the topic on Saturday, April 13, from 10-11:30 a.m. at its Water Conservation Learning Garden.

Britney Hunter, an assistant professor of horticulture at the USU Extension in Kaysville, will talk about techniques to start your garden earlier and continue it later in the year.

“There are a lot of very basic things you can do to get started in season extension,” said Hunter. “It shouldn’t be intimidating at all.”

One of those early possibilities includes water walls, which are plastic structures filled with water that surround a plant. The water helps insulate the plant and protect it from colder temperatures. They are available online under the brand name Wall O Water.

Another option is a plant blanket, which is a lightweight piece of fabric that gardeners can lay over young plants. They can be found in several local garden stores, and even some hardware stores.

“It helps keep the plants warm during the cold part of spring,” said Hunter.

Larger-scale possibilities include full greenhouses and high tunnel greenhouses, which are also known as solar greenhouses. The latter run about $500 to build, according to Hunter’s estimate, and detailed instructions can be found online at extension.usu.edu/productionhort/htm/tunnels.

No matter what form it takes, taking protective measures in advance can help any garden stay healthier throughout the year.

“In Utah the spring will start out really nice, then we’ll have a cold snap,” said Hunter. “If you have some protective measures, you can save yourself from having to replant.”

There can be other rewards as well.

“One of the biggest advantages is early tomatoes,” she said. “You’ll be the envy of your neighbors.”

The garden is located at 2837 E. Highway 193 in Layton. Organizers ask that participants register for the class in advance by calling 801-771-4374 or visiting